Background
Alfred Belo was born on May 27, 1839, at Salem, North Carolina, the son of Edward and Amanda (Fries) Belo.
Alfred Belo was born on May 27, 1839, at Salem, North Carolina, the son of Edward and Amanda (Fries) Belo.
Alfred Belo was highly educated from an early age.
Alfred opposed secession by separate state action, but when North Carolina withdrew from the Union he volunteered in the Confederate Army, raised the 16t Company Forsythe Riflemen and became its captain. His company was made part of the 55th Carolina Regiment under Col. J. Connally and Belo became quartermaster. He was promoted to major and then was made colonel when Col. Connally became brigadier-general. He was wounded twice at Gettysburg and again when Grant attacked Cold Harbor, but remained with the colors until Lee surrendered.
After the war Belo rode horseback from North Carolina to Texas, where he joined the Galveston News, in September 1865, as bookkeeper. In March 1866 he became one of the owners in the firm of W. Richardson & Company. In 1875 he bought out Richardson's interest in the publishing firm and changed its name to A. H. Belo & Company, incorporating under that name in 1881. Until his death he was president of the corporation. Stern and austere, a quiet, conscientious worker, Belo used his military training in forming rules and methods of discipline on his publications, adopting an unrelenting and vigorous stand against the old style of personal journalism and entangling alliances. Believing in the future of his adopted state, he regarded it as the mission of the News "to furnish people with news and labor for the development of Texas. "
With his associates Belo contracted in 1883 with the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad to run a special mail car every day in the year to carry papers out into the state. This is said to have been the first daily newspaper service of its kind in the world. Also in 1883 Belo built what is reported to have been the first modern exclusive newspaper plant in the United States, which was also the first fireproof building in Texas. He conceived the new and bold idea of duplicating the Galveston News simultaneously at Dallas to facilitate early delivery in all sections of Texas. The Dallas News was started October 1, 1885, and the venture proved successful beyond expectation, setting a precedent in journalism. The Dallas News was the third paper of consequence in America to own its own home devoted exclusively to the publication of a newspaper. Belo also was one of the incorporators of the Associated Press and served two terms as vice-president. He died in 1901.
Alfred Belo was married to Nettie Ennis of Galveston on June 30, 1868.